Follow minute-by-minute commentary of the Premier League game between Arsenal
and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday April 28, 2014,
kick-off 20.00 (BST)

FT: ARSENAL 3 NEWCASTLE 0 That's six in a row, loads of banners calling for Pardew out, and frankly who can blame them? The man himself returned to the touchline without incident or drama, sadly his team were just as muted. We'll just grab a couple of your emails and then see if Pardew says anything in the interviews. As to the Arsenal, they now need one more one to secure fourth spot, and they're four points ahead of Everton. Doesn't look like Pardew or Wenger will do the TV... so I think that about wraps it up. Thanks for reading, goodnight.

Dee Trevelyan: "Don't know about fourth, but fifth is certainly good enough....... to finish above Spurs!"

Waikwa Mubia: "I think that asernal will always be forth for ever with werger and it's not good enough. I'm a fun in Africa. Ten years is what anyone needs at the helm of any organization and then call it quits." Be lucky to get ten months, the way it's going...

Related Articles

Aaron Thompson: "'Newcastle have lost 14 of last 19 games in all comps. In 11 of their defeats this season they've conceded 3 goals or more'. Says it all."

93 mins: Finally Newcastle have a decent chance. Arsenal have slowed to a walk, and Newcastle get to the byline, Sissoko crosses and there's Paul Dummett with time to place a volley miles over the bar. That's the lot.

90 mins: Arsenal, who will have three more minutes of injury time, enjoy yet another corner. Ground has emptied out a lot.

87 mins: Adam Armstrong, 17, on for Gouffran.

86 mins: Podolski slips it through to Rosicky, he goes close with a through ball and Krull makes a good save at the near post.

85 mins: Rosicky sent through into the area, goes down under the challenge of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa... who is lucky not to see the ref point to the spot, I'd say. On reflection, it wasn't a pen.

84 mins: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa on for Debuchy.

81 mins: Couple more corners, Sanogo comes on, Giroud comes off.

80 mins: So can Cardiff, I reckon.

79 mins: Santi on the burst, gets to the byline and wins a corner. Newcastle are at home to Cardiff next and away to Liverpool on the last day of the season. On this evidence, Liverpool can bank those three points now.

76 mins: Awful, lazy wayward long effort from Debuchy. Sorry to say, because I've always liked Newcastle, but this lot are a complete shower on this evidence.

75 mins: Newcastle have an opportunity from the freekick but spurn it by hoofing the ball over.

Jeremy Wilson at the match says: "Banner now out among Newcastle fans saying 'What excuse next Pardew?'"

74 mins: Sagna with a cheap booking, tossing the ball away. Bit silly, this ref obviously a fusspot, having booked a man previously for celebrating. Malcolm says: "This is how Toon have played since the start of 2014. It's desperate stuff. Painful to watch. At any other club Pardew would've been long gone."

73 mins: Ozil and Ramsey off, Rosicky and Flamini on.

70 mins: Time for a few changes, Shola Ameobi for Gosling.

69 mins: Alan Smith says "it's just a question of how many Newcastle want to score now." For Giroud, the answer seems to be: at least one more. Ozil down the left, he's got the freedome of that flank, another cross, Podolski again close.

GOAL! Shame, that's the third goal. Newcastle opened up like a tin 'o' beans yet again, Ramsey frees Ozil who is in acres down the left, cross comes in, and Giroud has all the time in the world to slot it home. That, I'm afraid, is that. Feel sorry for the Newcastle fans, a hell of a journey to have to watch this. Apart from Michael, to whom I say: ha. ARSENAL 3 NEWCASTLE 0 (Giroud 66)

66 mins: Was just about to say I feel sorry for the Newcastle fans having to endure this listless effort from their side, and then this email arrives from Michael in Newcastle, who writes: "I think your a cocky southerner! Pardew aint that bad behaviour wise, your being a nob."

64 mins: Newcastle make a rare sortie into the Arsenal half but nothing comes of the move.

56 mins: Finally something from Newcastle as Gouffran breaks and shoots straight at the keeper. Signs of life, at least.

54 mins: Yet another Arsenal corner, a flicked header on, and Koscielny cracks the drive across goal. This is a bit like a training ground exercise at the moment.

52 mins: Another corner. Cazorla has a chance from the edge of the box with a volley. Over.

50 mins: Ramsey nips between two defenders and goes down to win a foul. Freekick in a dangerous area, but it's cleared for a corner.

49 mins: Remi's hit Mertesacker in the neck with his arm, the Arsenal man goes down.

47 mins: Williamson in a flap under pressure from Podolski but he scrambles it behind for a corner. Malcolm Reid asks: "Any sign of Ashley downing pints in the away end?? Not likely he'd get lynched. Also, Is 4th not a miracle for Arsenal considering spend vs Man City and Chelsea? Goonies should be careful what they wish for - look at man utd?"

46 mins: Pardew manages to make it to the dugout without bashing anyone over the head, calling a fan a swear name or whatever.

HT: ARSENAL 2 NEWCASTLE 0 Man alive that Ladbrokes advert might be the worst betting ad yet. It's like a Nick Love film, only 12 years behind the times. Anyhoo, Arsenal barely got out of second gear in the first 20. Just as it looked like complacency might be setting in, and Newcastle were getting into the game, they scored. Newcastle were on the ropes for the rest of the half, and it might have been more than two. Here's the second halfEvening Alan,

Shane O'Leary writes: "What's all this flim-flam about fourth and Pardew loathing? Surely the real debate is on whether Ashley Cole's beard means the 'Upside Down Head' look is back?"

Steven Baekeland: "Until we know how much Wenger is covering for the board & Kroenke, it is impossible to say whether Le Prof should stay or go. Exactly who made the call to go a whole season with ONE established striker? In the BPL this is suicide."

45+ mins: Cazorla dances past Coloccini like a sure-footed mountain goat going around a large boulder and cracks a shot that Krull blocks for a cleared corner. Tiote into the book for tripping Ramsey during that move. That's the half.

45 mins: Geordies are panicking, Arsenal open them up like a Kinder Egg, Sagna floats the cross in, but Giroud has mis-timed his jump.

43 mins: Shame, Newcastle are all over the show now. A dodgy back pass rushes the keeper into his clearance. Pardew on the touchline, in splendid isolation, barking out a series of curses. He's gone full Nescafe. Oh actually, maybe he's having a word with the ass ref.

GOAL! Newcastle play the offside trap.... or rather, Newcastle play the offside trap but Debuchy doesn't get the memo. He's not in line with his fellows in the back line and Giroud has broken free. He has time and space to... shoot it straight at Krull. And then he fires the rebound right at the keeper too! Fine double save by Tim Krull, but his luck is out, because the ball breaks to Ozil for a sitter. Hard lines, Krull. ARSENAL 2 NEWCASTLE 0 (Ozil 42 mins)

40 mins: Podolski and Ozil involved in some neat work down the left, and Podolski lashes the ball across goal. Giroud cannot get to the near post header.

39 mins: Not too impressed with Newcastle's defending at corners, they seem far too willing to just watch the ball sail over and then deal with it when it drops. This tactic tried and failed for the first goal. They try it again. Nervy defending, they have two botched attempts to clear it, but Santi cannot get the shot on target.

37 mins: Entreprising run from Debuchy down the Newcastle right, gets well forward and lashes a shot not far from goal.

36 mins: Sagna clear down the right, he's crossed it for Giroud, who cannot get there in time and accuses Williamson of having held him back. Nobody's buying.

34 mins: Ramsey booked for a tckle on Tiote, I think, that never touched him. I guess he was off the ground.

31 mins: Tiote gets hold of the ball from 35 yards out and bends a shot at goal. The Arsenal goalkeeper whose name we avoid typing wherever possible gathers it cleanly.

29 mins: Suddenly it's all Arsenal. Podolski with a bullet header from a corner, great reaction save from Krull.

27 mins: Very nearly two. Ramsey frees Podolski who is running wild and free like a lovely Polish-German stag, Krull comes out unwisely and Podols has had a go fom distance... it drifts wide. He ought to have done better there.

GOAL! Regulation freekick in, poor defending from Newcastle and indeed epsecially Sissoko. He just watches the ball drop and tries to follow Koscielny, who is able to apply a simple tap-in. Weak from the Geordie backs. ARSENAL 1 NEWCASTLE 0 (Koscielny 26) In the aftermath of the goal, Koscielny is booked for celebrating by kicking the ball into the crowd.

24 mins: Sissoko is booked for tugging on Giroud, if you'll pardon the expression.

&lt;noframe&gt;Twitter: Michael Cox - Newcastle defence playing high but no pressure on Arsenal back four in possession, simple chips over top look the order of the day here..,&lt;/noframe&gt;

22 mins: Newcastle growing in confidence, they've got a few players forward in this attack. It doesn't come to much but a sign of a bit more intent from the visitors. Arsenal neat but bloodless, very flat. Near silence in the stadium. All this for just 70 quid a ticket? No thanks.

21 mins: Grioud and his silly hair are penalised for being offside, perhaps rather harshly.

19 mins: Rare break from Newcastle, in fact a rare touch for Newcastle, as Moussa Sissoko gets a chance to run at the defence. He tries to curl it over the keeper from 25 yards running at full pace. Let's just say that it would have been a wonderful goal and leave it at that.

17 mins: Ramsey spots the pass, there's Sagna galloping down the right, decent cross with men arriving in the box and Coloccini again does well to cut it out. Corner. Ball slung in, there's Koscielnyup for a header and he makes a heavy contact with Tim Krull, the latter coming off worse. The keeper's punch drops for Ozil outside the box and he goes close with a mis-hit volley.

15 mins: Giroud picks the ball up in the centre circle and Arsenal can start a counter attack. Sadly Giroud doesn't have the pace to get away from an attendant brace of Mag defenders, and he is over-run.

13 mins: Arsenal in more or less total control but not really looking especially sharp. "Quiet in the stadium, the fans waiting to be lifted. Up to Arsenal to do that," says Alan Smith.

11 mins: Dangerous! Cazorla frees Ozil, he tries to cross low for Ramsey but there's Coloccini sliding in for a vital interception/block.

9 mins: Arsenal on the front foot, as one would expect, but not putting the visitors under any particular pressure.

7 mins: Pards out of his dugout for the first time (that I can see) and he appeals for a foul. Rejected, and he doesn't punch anyone in the eye even a little bit.

5 mins: Good little passage from Arsenal, their passing crisp, their movement neat, their underpants clean no doubt. Monreal is down the left touchline and they win the game's first corner. Cleared well enough.

4 mins: Good ball from Newcastle but Gouffran has been ruled off, not too sure about that call but there you have it.

2 mins: Arsenal take up a position in the Newcastle half, making good progress down the left. Lethargic start from the Barcodes.

19.58 Actually I suppose if you're Pardew you'd rather run the gauntlet of the Arsenal fans than your own.

19.57 All smiles between Pardew and Wenger as they greet each other. Dorky young man's handshake greeting. Nobody slaps anybody else.

19.56 Pardew walks from the tunnel to the dugout, he's very close to the Arsenal fans there. Shamefully, not a single one of them takes the opportunity to call him a nasty name or attempt to goad him into an act of hideous ultraviolence. This country. Gone right downhill.

19.55 Pardew there, drinking a bottle of mineral water in the tunnel. Well, one assumes it's mineral water.

19.46 Here's Alan Pardew doing a pre-match interview. "It is important for a manager to be with his team. It has been tough sitting away from the team the last few games. We must be brave tonight and have a clear game plan. We have to threaten Arsenal and we have the players to do that."

Question: "Can you clarify why Ben Arfa has not travelled with the team?"

Pardew: "No not really. The team has been selected on merit."

19.45 Woah, this Monday Night Football thing is always alarming, isn't it? They look like holograms.

19.40 Poor old Kevin Bacon. He'll do anything for a quid, won't he?

19.30 Love Carra. His solution to beat the blues for Liddypool after the hammer blow of their recent defeat? "Take the wives out for a meal, go to the races." Yes.

19.25 And what of the Toon, who are on a horror run that has seen them lose five in a row. Is the fact that their manager has been banned from the touchline due to his own stupidity a factor? Surely it must be hard to preach discipline, hard work, organisation when you are serving your time for attacking an opponent.? Maybe footballers don't care about stuff like that.

19.18 Talking of Arsene, here he is being interviewed by the telly: "Tonight is a great opportunity for us." I must say, I think it's been something of a PR coup the way finishing fourth - that's below three other teams, by some way - has been swallowed as a bloody good effort in the circumstances. How long will Arsenal tolerate this mediocrity? Wenger's position seems as secure as it has been for some time. I mean, it's not my problem - just wonder how Arsenal fans feel about him. Do get in touch should you so wish.

19.15 Should be an emotional reunion for Arsene Wenger and Alan Pardew. What might Pardew say to him, one wonders?

&lt;noframe&gt;Twitter: Henry Winter - Interesting to see how many fans leave at half-time at Emirates tonight with Tube strike starting 21.00.&lt;/noframe&gt;

19.05 For the Mags, it's the return of Alan Pardew, who took a fwe weeks away from the touchline to work on his handbook of etiquette. They're in a dreadful run of form and have to be rated as unlikely to leave here with a point. If Arsenal win, they'll be four points clear of Everton, on the same number of games (38), in the battle for fourth. Gary Neville says "Arsene always gets the job done." Well, do you cound finishing fourth as "job done", or not, I guess.

19.00 Evening all. Tyers here with live bloggery of Arsenal's match against Newcastle at the Emirates. My first duty will be to bring you the team news as soon as I have it. Kick off is at 8pm. Devoted Arsenal fans have made this rather nice poster about their boy Lukas Podolski. It's very 'new football', isn't it? "Goal Involvement", you say? When I was a lad, it was about goals. And avoiding large packs of opposing supporters. Still, probably for the better, all things considered. Let's hope Lukas Podolski can do an exciting goal involvement or two tonight.

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko is back in training after missing the last three games with a hamstring problem and could feature at the Emirates Stadium, while fullback Mathieu Debuchy and striker Loïc Rémy could return to the starting line-up after appearing as substitutes in last weekend's 2-1 home defeat by Swansea.

However, strikers Papiss Cissé and Luuk de Jong are likely to be missing as medics continue to assess the extent of the injuries they suffered against the Swans, and midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa is still struggling.

Match Notes Two clubs whose results have slipped dramatically in 2014 but it has been Arsenal showing the greater signs of revival over recent weeks.

The return of Aaron Ramsey has coincided with three straight wins and, with Everton in such excellent form, they may still need to repeat that sequence to be assured of Champions League football.

The goalscoring burden is again likely to fall on Lukas Podolski but, with Ramsey and Mesut Özil back, Arsenal should have sufficient firepower.

Stat of the game: All four of Mesut Özil’s Premier League goals have come at the Emirates Stadium.